@VeryHappy I have some nice Columbia pants, shorts, and shirts. Really nice!
To the OP…when you downsize your house…upsize your closets.
@thumper1 - what a great idea about upsizing closets! However, we already have the home to which we are downsizing - a 2BR/2 BA condo at 935 sq ft. We are currently in approx 3,450.
The interiors of the closets were actually nicely redone with shelving, etc., with a remodel by the previous owner. I actually measured the total hanging space in both closets, and together, dh and I will have to reduce our wardrobes by 23% to get what we currently own to fit (yes, I’m a bit compulsive!). I can defintely do a 25% reduction when the time comes in a few years. I think it’s more that I feel like I just have more than I need, and eliminating some would be simpler. One of the bloggers mentioned owning all these clothes and still feeling like you don’t have anything to wear. I have that issue sometimes. Mostly, I need to stop buying dressier clothes. I need to find that put-together look in between sloppy and dressy. I have a pretty good sense of what my style is and am capable of that. It’s just a matter of being more disciplined/focused on what I am purchasing going forward.
I also have the tendency to buy clothes for a fantasy life I don’t actually live. Some friends refer to these garments as closet art. What has helped me is to ask myself before a purchase, “will I put this on and wear this tomorrow?” It doesn’t literally have to be “tomorrow.” Sometimes I buy for the upcoming season when temps are different. But I only buy things I know I am going to wear, really wear, and wear pretty much on a daily basis.
@alh - thank you! I’m glad I’m not alone in this “fantasy life” struggle! Ha ha! And, it’s not because I don’t live my charmed life, so I’m not sure why I make those purchases. And, btw, it’s not like I’m buying jewel-encrusted ball gowns! Mostly just dressier than I would have the opportunity to wear very often! They seem to be anticipatory purchases, though I am not sure what I am anticipating!
When we moved to the empty nesting house, and I did a huge closet clean out, I made a list of actual events I occasionally need clothes for: funerals, weddings, beach, etc. Then I pulled out pieces that would work for those occasions. The rest is all day to day clothes, but dressy day to day, because I like to be dressed up.
Husband and I each have 7 feet of hanging space in this house. The closet addition was designed to have a large dressing area but limited hanging space.
Some of it will be simply closet organization. Our small house years ago had some built in shelving which held just about everything. It was a long skinny walk-in. One side was total shelves, the end and other side was hanging.
Great closet.
My current closet is bigger but I’m still trying to figure out the best way to organize (rather than just toss stuff).
One thing I’ve done though which I love is roll many of my clothes and put them in drawers. Great space saver.
Most of the fabrics I have are non-wrinkle and it works great. I’ve even rolled many of my dresses and put them in drawers. It’s super easy to pull open a drawer and shuffle through without messing anything up. Most everything can be seen rather than forgotten at the bottom of a stack. It’s a huge plus when going to travel–everythiing is ready to pack.
Re: “fantasy life” pieces. Two years ago, my friends and I planned a fantasy NYE party so we could wear our fantasy clothing.
Another tip I learned from another cc thread: Bag up clothes you don’t wear anymore routinely and donate. When I was on a roll, I was doing this weekly. Now, maybe every 2 months.
I also decided to separate my clothes by color which had a lot of benefits. It’s easier to get find what you want and before you shop you can take a quick inventory of just how many items you have in a certain color.
I’m drawn to certain colors but certainly don’t need 20 items in one color (so it’s good for shopping and down-sizing your clothes).
@lilmom - what a fun idea!
@gouf78 - yes, I am organized by color as well. My closet is very organized - I just have more than I need! I have been doing KonMari folding, which has worked well.
Ds and dh are doing a long road trip to take ds back to school so ds can have his car on campus next year. I’m going to use that opportunity to really “go in” and get some stuff done in the closet.
I absolutely ADORE these dresses:
They can totally be wadded up and not wrinkle. I really could wear these every day, but then I start to wonder if it’s too much of the same thing. They aren’t warm enough for winter use, but I love them the other three seasons and for travel.
Hog Girl–Half or more of my wardrobe is what I’ve deemed “wash and wad” wear. And I sometimes think maybe I’m overdoing it but those are my “go to” clothes. Comfortable, cool and look good.
I think a good way to think about clothing that is “good” but you just don’t want anymore is - if you spilled something on this you couldn’t remove / dry cleaner ruined it, how would you feel? It helps me identify those things I really love versus those where I’m reacting to the sunk cost of their purchase.
I really like those dresses, Hoggirl. For me, it isn’t too much of the same thing, but that is a personal choice.
If I didn’t impose some artificial constraints, clothes would take over my living space.
Like Bunsen, I restrict the designers. At present my hanging space is all one designer.
Clothes have to fit into the hanging space. If it gets crowded, something has to go.
Then I only buy certain colors.
And I only buy certain types of garments: dresses, jackets, coats. (no pants, shirts)
My goal is only one outfit a season. I am getting there.
I’m trying to create a very consistent look so this system works for me. I understand it’s not for everyone. My sisters aren’t in favor of my “rules”
Very helpful @alh. I think we must be similar in our struggles.
Don’t really have any helpful suggestions for you, @Hoggirl but I am loving this thread. I have lots of clothes but often feel like I don’t have anything to wear and I think there’s a huge element of this “fantasy” thing going on! Never thought about it that way.
80+% of my life is quite casual but I still have a fair amount of business type clothing in my closet that I need perhaps 1-2 times a year for a committee meeting or the like. I find when we go out with other couples or have a girls night out and I want to dress up a bit, I don’t seem to have the right clothing.
Making a list of different events and finding outfits I truly love and feel good in is a great idea. I also like the idea of picking a few colors and planning a wardrobe around that.
Thanks for the push to make this a focus!
“My goal is only one outfit a season. I am getting there.”
I was doing great until yesterday when I went to a sale at 65 per cent off of one of my favorite designers…
Alh - one outfit a season is interesting. Do you mean wearing the same thing again and again? Or do you mean multiples so you can wash or have dry cleaned? How does this fit with different day events (eg puttering at home one day, having coffee with a friend the next, going to a nice restaurant after that)?
I “putter” a lot so my stuff is pretty generic…but I like it!
@alh “Closet art” -what a beautiful phrase!
My personal clothing porn is shoes. And not of the Carrie Bradshaw high end designer ilk, more like Vans, Sperrys, Tevas and Frye boots. I have plastic shoe boxes stacked along the back wall of my closet.
I have a “walk in” closet, which means that technically you can step into it. The top shelf holds nice sized sweater boxes. I also have a good sized, old fashioned dresser.
My personal rule is that if it won’t fit in my closet or dresser, something already in there has to go. It works for me.
However, my sister-in-law just converted a spare bedroom into her own, personal closet. Her husband has one small closet and a couple of dresser drawers. It works for them.
@Pizzagirl - I think she means acquiring only one new outfit per season.
@gouf78 - I putter a lot, too. However, I used to do it more stylishly dressed. I have let that slide a bit too much.
I did get inspired! I culled two trash sacks worth of clothes and nine pairs of shoes to take to Goodwill!
I’ve also been thinking about how to streamline purchases going forward. I’m leaning toward limiting my colors on my separates to black/white/charcoal with red added in for fall/winter and pink for spring/summer. Plus denim. On dresses having any colors I want but limiting purchases to those that would work with either black or taupe/nude shoes.
Someone mentioned upthread the need for clothes between dressy and casual. I agree. That’s my achilles heel. I need things to wear to peoples’ houses when we’re invited for dinner.